Vehicle with retractable wheels



March 5, 1963 J. w. DARBY 3,080,196

VEHICLE WITH RETRACTABLE WHEELS Filed Nov. 12, 1957 INV ENT OR.

BY 9&1

United States Patent 3,08i9,196 VEHECLE WITH RETRACTABLE WHEELS James W. Darby, Z6246 Woodrnont, Roseville, Mich. Filed Nov. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 695,741 12 Claims. (Cl. 298-4) My invention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus preferably adapted for containing earth dug from an excavation and operable to back-fill the excavation as desired.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is particularly applicable to the back-filling of cemetery grave excavations, but it will be apparent that other excavating and/ or material handling work will be similarly facilitated by the use of the present or similarly constructed equipment.

When excavations such as are made for graves or in utility company work and the like are to be dog, and the earth removed must be retained for subsequent backfilling, several problems arise. The earth tends to become scattered and to fall back into the excavation or, in cases of utility work, into the street or adjacent property. l-tain will sometimes wash part of t re pile away or at least create an extensive muddy area. In the case of cemetery graves, a pile of earth is unsightly and no kind of covering can disguise its identity. The cost and the time expanded preclude such a solution as transporting the excavated earth away and returning it when back-filling is needed. in addition, the process of back-filling must be accomplished either by hand-shoveling, which is a slow process, or by utilizing a bulldozer or other earth-moving equipment, which is expensive and, in areas where space is limited, maneuvering of equipment may be difficult.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate the handling of excavated earth by providing an apparatus for containing the earth adjacent the excavation.

Another object of the invention is to remedy problems in handling excavated earth by providing an apparatus capable of both storing excavated earth and back-filling the excavation when required.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate material handling by providing an apparatus comprising a wheeled undercarriage and a hopper carried thereby, said undercarriage being selectively lowered to a ground-support position.

Yet another object of the invention is to improve earthhandling equipment by constructing a light-weight, readily transported, portable apparatus for containing excavated earth in readiness for back-filling.

Still another object of the invention is to facilitate material-handling by providing a light-weight apparatushaving wheels that may be retracted to lower the apparatus into ground-support position whereby relatively heavy loads may be held ready for various purpose while permitting the unloaded vehicle to be readily transported.

A still further object of the invention is to facilitate earth-handling by constructing a portable hopper apparatus adapted to contain excavated earth and operable selectively to dump the load of earth back into the excavatlon.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of the preferred apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, the wheels of the apparatus having been retracted.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of one end of the apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating the wheels in the retracted position, and

P16. 5 is a diagrammatic end view of a modified construction of the apparatus.

The material apparatus comprises a frame assembly 10 and a preferred container 11 carried thereon substantially as shown. The frame assembly 10 includes a base or lower frame 12 and anupper frame 13 on which the bottom 14 of the container 11 normally rests. The upper and lower frames are spaced apart preferably by substantially upstanding members 15 and inclined end memhere 16. a

A suspension assembly 17 is hinged approximately at each corner of the undercarriage 10 by any suitable means such as rods 18 each connecting an end pair of suspension assemblies 17 and pivotally carried by pillow blocks 19 or other means mounted preferably on the end members 16. The end pairs of suspension assemblies 17 are each also preferably connected together by means of a cross bar 20 on which an upstanding trunnion arm 21 is mounted as shown. The two arms 21 are preferably pivotally connected as at 21w respectively to the ends of a hydraulic cylinder 22 and piston 23 or other actuating means. Retraction of the piston 23 into the cylinder 22 will pivot the suspension assemblies 17 upward and outward as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and extension of the piston 23 will pivot the suspension assemblies downward and inward as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is noted that any other means may be used to accomplish this operation, and the hydraulic means shown is merely preferred.

A wheel 30 is carried by a conventional swivel mount 31 which is pivotally secured to each suspension assembly 17 substantially as shown, the wheels 36 thus being retracted or extended vertically with respect to the undercarraige it upon corresponding operation of the suspension assemblies 17. When extended, the wheels 30 support the undercarriage above the ground surface 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the entire apparatus may be readily wheeled into any desired position. An excavation is indicated by the dotted line 33 in FIG. 2 and by the solid line 33 in FIGS. 3 and 5. The suspension assemblies 17 are locked in the downward position by any preferred means such as by latches til pivotally secured to the frame 13 and operable to engagewith a slot 41 provided in each arm 21. The wheels .30 are preferably prevented from swiveling during retraction by any means such as with a locking plate 42 hinged to the support structures 17 to be selectively pivoted downward, into engagement with the wheel 39 and illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4.

When retracted, the wheels 3% are disposed between the ends of the container bottom 14-, which preferably overhang the ends of the undercarriage 10, and the ground 32, the undercarriage 10 thus being lowered so that the lower frame 12 rests upon the ground 32. This places the container 11 in a convenient position to receive material such as earth which is removed from the ground adjacent the apparatus during an excavation.

The undercarriage 10 and the wheels 30 are preferably constructed of relatively light weight material which, if in the extended raised position of FIGS. 1 and 2, would be unable to support the load of material in the container 11. In the lowered position of FIGS. 3 and 4, however, the load stress is completely removed from the Wheels 30 and instead is substantially transmitted to the ground on which the lower frame 12 rests, through the members 15 and 16. Such light weight portable construction is much less expensive and facilitates easier handling and transportation when empty than would be the case if the apparatus were constructed to otherwise carry a heavy load of material. i

The container '11 is provided with one "or more hinge arms 43 secured at one side of the container 11 and pivotally secured by .any means such as hinge pins 44 to pillow blocks 45 secured to the upright members 15 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The hinge line is preferably disposed intermediate the bottom 14 of the container 11 and the ground 32 suchthat when tilted off of the undercarriage as shown in FIG. 3, the container will project laterally outward to dump backfill earth into theexcavfation .33 spaced laterally from *the apparatus. Thus the possibility of cave-in of the edge of'the excavation l33due to-the weight of the'loaded apparatus isimate'rially reduced.

, The container 11 "may be tilted by any means such as hydraulically by a piston *47 andcylinder 46 respectively .pivotally connected to the container bottom 14 and a lcross member'4 8 secured to the lower frame 12. The container 11 has a side gate50 preferably constructed as illustrated in FIG. '3 to swing outward by its own weight due to being hinged near the top'edgeon a hingerodSi secure'd'tothe ends52 ofthe container '11. A latchrod '53 may be inserted through matching fixtures 54 and 55 respectively mounted on the gate 50 and the container ends 52 or anyothersuitablemeansrnaybeso employed to lockthegatestlin theclosed position.

FIG. 5 illustrates diagrammatically *a modification of the invention having an undercarriage structure 69 pro- 'vided with'a slanted upper frame 61 on which is secured ltlie'slan'ted bottomi62 of a'c0ntainer'63. The container "63 .doesnot tilt at all, but is provided with a gate '64 fhinged to'the Qbottom62 of the container 63, such that earth in the container 63 will readily pour from-the container into the excavation 33. The "wheels 30 are arranged for retraction as in the modification of FIGSJ1-4.

It is also noted that the'gate64, swinging downward as in "5, may be used if possible'withthe container 11 of FIGS.'1+4 instead'of the.gate50 illustrated.

Although I have described only one preferred embodimentofthe invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in'the art to which the invention pertains that various changes and modifications "may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of the inventionor the'scope of theappended claims.

"1. A dumping vehicle comprising (a) an elongatedfrarne assembly,

(b) a container mounted {on top of said "frame assembly,

'(c') spaced suspension assemblies pivotally mounted on said frame assembly,

*(d') 'means pivotingsaid'suspension assemblies on an 'axis'parallel to the transverse axis of said "frame assembly to raise and lower ,said frame assembly from and to the'groun'd,

(e) 'said 'm'eans 'operably connecting andbeing 'posi- -tioned between'said spaced suspension assemblies.

2. The apparatus'as defined in elairnl and in which said container comprises aboxhaving abottom slanting downwardly'to'one sidethereof and a gate at "said side, said gate being'hingedly connected at the bottom ofsaid box whereby to provide a -slideway for material being dumped from said container.

3. The apparatus-as *defined-iin claim #2 and in which said frame assembly comprises a lower frame structure and supportmembers I spacing said lower frame structure from the bottom of said container, said lower frame structure :being raised and lowered from and to the ground when "said suspension assemblies are pivoted.

4. The apparatus as'defined in claim 3 andin which 1 said :wheel assemblies: on being;pivoted upwardly are dising support structures disposed one at each end of said frame assembly and pivotally connected thereto on substantially parallel horizontal axes, said wheels being rotatably carried on said support structures on axes separate from the pivot axes of said support structure.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 and in which said actuating means comprises an extendable and retractable cylinder and piston carried by said frame assem bly and connected to said support structures at pivot points spaced from the pivot axes of said support structures.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 and in which a pair of spaced wheels are swivably carried by each of said support structures.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and in which -said suspension assemblies include support members pivotally mounted on said frame assembly, wheel carrying members swivably carried by said support members on swivel axes disposed respectively at right angles to the pivot axes of said support members, and said wheels being rotatably carried by said support members on axes disposed respectively at right angles to the swivel axes, and means selectively locking said wheel carrying members against swiveling thereof.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 and in which said container comprises an elongated box having the ends thereof overhanging said frame assembly, and in which said suspension assemblies on being pivoted upwardly are disposed substantially in the spaces between the overhanging ends of the box and the ground.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 and in which 'said container comprises a box carried by said frame assembly and hinged at one side thereto, means tilting said box relative to said frame assembly, and the hinged side of said box being selectively opened for dumping theload from said box when same is tilted.

11. The apparatus as defined inclaim 10 and in which said hinged side comprises a gate panel hinged at the upper edge thereof to the ends of said box and operable to swing outward under its own weight when said box .is titled.

'12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 and in which said box ishinged to said frame assembly on a longitudinalhinge line spaced from the box and disposed intermediate the bottom thereof and said lower frame structure such that tilting of said box effects lateral projection thereofbeyond the side of said frame assembly whereby to facilitate dumping the load in a location laterally spaced from said apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,362 'Christianson Jan. 16, 1912 409,954 Gearhart Aug.27, .1889 425,517 Hughes Apr. 15, 1890 1493,317 Trapp Mar. 14, 1893 610,442 Grifiin et ah Sept. 6, 1898 741,594 Schlachter Oct. 13, 1903 908,869 King Jan. 5, 1909 934,480 Treiber Sept. 21, 1909 1,244,783 :Ruckes Oct. 30, 1917 1,411,435 Nolan Apr. 4, 1922 1,440,406 Nolan Jan. 2, 1923 1,828,797 Becker Oct. 27, 1931 2,140,421 Fageol Dec. 13, 1938 2,266,866 Houston Dec. 23, 1941 2,393,642 Kowalski Jan. 29, 1946 2,412,158 Kuehlman et a1. Dec. 3, 1946 2,491,780 Stees Dec. 20, 1949 2,628,729 Borchers Feb. 17, 1953 2,648,546 Falkenhagen Aug. 11, 1953 2,672,247 'Jewett Mar. 16, 1954 2,706,009 Schramm Apr. 12, 1955 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Quigley Dec. 27, 1955 Kerner Feb. 5, 1957 Talboys Feb. 12, 1957 Mascaro Sept. 7, 1957 5 6 Schramrn Sept. 23, 1958 Hillberg Apr. 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Austria June 25, 1923 

1. A DUMPING VEHICLE COMPRISING (A) AN ELONGATED FRAME ASSEMBLY, (B) A CONTAINER MOUNTED ON TOP OF SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY, (C) SPACED SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY, (D) MEANS PIVOTING SAID SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE TRANSVERSE AXIS OF SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY FROM AND TO THE GROUND, (E) SAID MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTING AND BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SPACED SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES. 